Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
The ability to quickly diagnose and treat food- and water-borne pathogens is of paramount importance. Foodborne illness is an ongoing major problem in the United States, which annually experiences approximately 76 million illnesses and 5,000 deaths due to foodborne pathogens. This research will play a critical role in protecting the country from bioterrorist threats. We have established a Microbiology and Botulism Research Unit (MBRU) as part of the Food & Waterborne Diseases Integrated Research Network (F&WD-IRN). There are five other units within this network, located throughout the country.
Animal Health Component
20%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
60%
Applied
20%
Developmental
20%
Goals / Objectives
The NIAID research agenda in Food and Waterborne Diseases will be implemented at the direction of the Project Officer. This inter-disciplinary consortium will address food and waterborne pathogens (bacteria, viruses, and protozoa) included in the NIAID Category A, B, C priority organisms list.
Project Methods
The Food & Waterborne Diseases Integrated Research Network (F&WD-IRN) will 1) develop and evaluate vaccines, therapeutics, rapid detection methods, 2) integrate human immunity with clinical research, 3) increase research and product development activities, and 4) include the ecology and microbiology of food- and water-borne diseases as well as drug resistant pathogens.